Control apparatus



P. L.. MARDIS. CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION mzo OCT. 3!, 19m. nsucwzn we. 26. m9.

Patented Apr. 13 1920.

INVENTOR I l I J I I I 1 H I Paul 1.. Ma rd is.

TTORNEY al/gi I I WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.v

PAUL L. MARDIS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed October 31, 1914, Serial No. 869,570.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL L. MARDIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of ennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in. Control Apparatus, of which the followingfis a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus of the drum-controller type which is especially adapted to govern the operation of unit-switch control systems. and it has special reference to so called slip-segment devices that are employed in connection with controller drums for the purpose of interrupting the energizing control circuits when the drum is moved a predetermined short distance in a backward direction.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character which shall be simple, inexpensive and durable in construction and effective and reliable in operation, and which shall be so constructed as to interrupt the control circuits with rapiditv and through a break of relatively great length.

In Patent No. 1,239,840, ,granted Septem: ber 11, 1917, to Norman ll. Storer, and assigned to the Vestinghouse Electric & ll anufacturing Company, apparatus of this general type is disclosed which operates to accomplish a similar' function. It is my special endeavor to improve and simplify the constructions of this device in such manner that economies in manufacture may be realized and superior operation secured.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in plan, of a controller constru ted in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of a ortion of the device shown in Fi 1; and ig. 3 is a sectional View of the civice taken along the dot-anddash lines III-III of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown comprises a main supporting frame 1, a rotatable shaft 2, a main controller drum 3, an auxiliary slip-segment device 4, and an inclosing case 5.

The frame 1 may be of any well known construction, and, associated therewith, are a plurality of insulating bars or blocks 7 and 8 to which sets of stationary contact .fingers9 and 10 are respectively secured.

Furthermore, a U-shaped member or-stop Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920. Renewed August 26, 1919. Serial No. 320,048.

11 is fastened to the casing 1 and suitably insulated therefrom. The function of the stop 11 will be hereinafter explained.

The rotatable shaft 2 carries the main controller drum 3 and the slip-segment device 4, and is shown) in accordance with usual practice, whereby the shaft and associated apparatus may be moved through its successive positions at the will of the operator. Without describing the c'onstruction of the drum 3, the periphery of which is provided with contact segments 12 adapted for cooperative engagement with the stationary contact fingers 10, attention is directed to the struc tural details of the slip-segment device 4.

Surrounding the shaft 2 is a cylindrical bushing 13, preferably of fiber or other insulating material, and said bushing is rigidly fastened thereto by means of a dowel pin 14. The bushing 13 is provided with a slight central annular recess 15 and. surrounding said bushing and coiiperating with the recess referred to. is a split and hinged sleeve 16 which has frictional engagement therewith. as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

'The split sleeve 16 comprises two complementary parts 17 and 18 that are fastened together, at one end, by means of a hinge or pin connection 19 of any suitable type. The opposite end of the sleeve part 17 constitutes an arm 20 that projects outwardly and radially a material distance beyond the pe riphery of the main control drum 3, and, secured thereto is an insulating block 21 upon which is mounted a movable contact segment 22 that is adapted for cooperative engagement with the contact fingers 9, under predetermined conditions. The corresponding end of sleeve part 18 also projects outwardly in a radial direction, although to a less extent, and, associated therewith and with the arm 20 of the other part 17, is a bolt 23 that projects through both said members and is provided with a coil spring 24, the tension of which may be adjusted as desired. The two parts orhalves 17 and 18 of the split sleeve 16, therefore, are resilientl maintained in frictional engagement with the bushing 13, whereby'said sleeve and its associated movable contact segment 22 are moved in correspondence to movements of the shaft 2 and main controller drum 3.

In order to limit the degree of movement provided with a handle, (not of the slip segment device 4, however, an integral arm 26 is provided upon the part 17 and is located intermediate the side arms of th\- U-shaped stop 11 with which it engages in the respective limits of travel.

If the shaft 2 is rotated in a clock-wise direction, the sleeve 16 will be correspond ingly moved, by reason of the frictional engagement of the members 13 and 16, until the stop 26 engages an arm of the member 11 whereby further movement of the sleeve 16 will be prevented. In this position the contact member 22 engages the contact fingers 9. A. reverse rotation of the shaft 2 will similarly cause the contact member 22 to become disen aged from the contact fingers 9 and the s eeve 16 to assume the position shown in the drawing.

By reason of the relatively great distance between the movable contact member 22 and the axis of the shaft 2, as compared to the main contact segments 12 of the controller drum 3, it is clear that the speed of movement thereof is greatly in excess of that of the main controller segments, while the length of travel is correspondingly increased. This peculiar relationship of parts, particularly adapts the slip-segment device 4 for the interruption of relatively high-voltage circuits. Moreover. the relatively large radius or lever arm at which the pressure of the spring 24 is applied, insures a strong clamping action on the bushing 13 and results in positive and reliable operation of the slip-segment device.

Obviously, many modifications in the structure and arrangement and location of parts herein shown may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications are intended to be covered in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a rotatable shaft, an insulating bushing attached thereto, a two-part annular sleeve surrounding said bushing, a hinge connection between the parts of said sleeve at one end, and a bolt and spring associated with the other cooperating ends of said sleeve parts, of an insulating block associated with said sleeve, a contact member mounted thereon, an outwardly projecting member associated with said sleeve, a stationary contact member for engaging said stop for engaging said outwardly projecting member.

2. In a controller, the combination with a rotatable main drum, of an auxiliary split drum of greater radius than said main drum being rotatively associated therewith, resilient means located near the periphery of said auxiliary drum for frictionally causing said auxiliary drum to rotate with said main drum, contact members associated with said drums, the contact members of said main drum being adapted for relatively low-potential circuits, and the contact members of said auxiliary drum being adapted for relatively high-potential circuits, and means for limiting the movement of said auxiliary drum relatively to said main drum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of Oct.. 19 4;.

PAUL L. MARDTS Witnesses EARL M; BILL, B. B. HINES.

first contact member, and a 

